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Tropics are 'getting hot at the right time' in Series
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Southeast Tropics hitter Waylon Hale lays off a pitch out of the strike zone during a game against Puerto Rico in the Babe Ruth World Series at Capaha Field. The two teams will play today in the elimination bracket of the tournament at 2:30 p.m. at Capaha Field.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com
Every coach, regardless of the sport, wants his/her team to be playing its best when the season is on the line.
For veteran Southeast Tropics coach Dustin Schwartz, that is happening, as his team is absolutely playing its best baseball as the Babe Ruth World Series enters its final days.
“We are gelling so well right now,” Schwartz said following his team’s 12-3 win over Stamford, Conn. on Monday at Capaha Field. “It looks like we may be getting hot at the right time.”
The Tropics finished Pool Play in the World Series as one of three unbeaten teams through four initial games.
The Alabama Raw Dogs and Aycorp Media Charleston Fighting Squirrels also won all four of their Pool Play games.
The Tropics will face Puerto Rico (3-1) today at 2:30 p.m. in the elimination bracket, a team that the Tropics topped 18-0 in its Series opener on Friday.
The Tropics closed Pool Play with a 12-3 rout of Stamford, Conn. behind great offense (again), and a surprisingly strong outing from pitcher Thomas Frakes.
The former Portageville High School pitcher had thrown just one inning since going three innings on July 21 but was very impressive against the Connecticut team.
“If you would have told me that Thomas Frakes was going to go seven innings and give up just three runs against a very good Connecticut lineup,” Schwartz said, “I probably would have called you a liar.”
Franks threw a complete game and allowed eight hits while walking three and striking out three.
“He throws strikes,” Schwartz said of Frakes. “He throws different pitches for strikes. He pounds the bottom of the (strike) zone and makes these teams hit the ball on the ground.
“Our defense, on this turf, we make some plays.”
Offensively, only the Raw Dogs (51 runs scored) have produced more runs in this tournament than the Tropics (49).
“We’re working (pitch) counts really well,” Schwartz said. “People can see that we are drawing a lot of walks, but part of that is, we are working deep into the counts, we’re battling off pitches that we can’t do a lot with.”
Against Connecticut, the Tropics (30-6-1) drew seven walks after drawing 11 against a California team on Sunday.
“We are being so pesky with pitchers,” Schwartz continued, “if we’re not beating them with hits, then we are getting so far into counts when they make a mistake, we are able to take the pitch and get on base.”
The Tropics, who won this tournament a year ago, are in their final season of competition, as Schwartz is going to retire from guiding the program this week.
His team has won 10 consecutive games since falling to the Fighting Squirrels in the championship game of the Missouri State Babe Ruth Tournament on July 16.